Making a Sweet Patchwork Bunny Pattern from Scraps
If you've got a mountain of fabric scraps taking on space within your craft space, starting a patchwork bunny pattern is the absolute best way to make use of them up. There's something so satisfying about watching tiny, mismatched components of natural cotton and linen change into a floppy, cuddly friend. It's not just about cleaning up your put, though that's the huge plus; it's about creating something that feels such as it has a soul. Every time I look at one of these bunnies, I see bits of old projects— a bit of a summer outfit, a scrap from a baby quilt, or even that floral print out I bought upon a whim 5 years ago.
Why Patchwork Bunnies are So Unique
There's the reason the "shabby chic" or "scandi-style" stuffed animal by no means really goes away of fashion. The patchwork bunny pattern offers the kind of reminiscence that a store-bought plushie just can't replicate. When you make a gadget out of diverse fabrics, it turns into an one-of-a-kind heirloom immediately. No 2 bunnies will ever look the identical, also if you use the same template every time.
I think we've all been there—staring at those gorgeous, expensive handmade plaything on Instagram plus wondering if we can actually make one. The great news is that bunnies are amazingly forgiving. Their lengthy ears and simple shapes are ideal for beginners, and mainly because it's "patchwork, " any little flaws in how the particular patterns align just add to the character. If a seam is really a small bit wonky, this just looks want part of the vintage appeal.
Getting Your Materials Together
Before you jump into your patchwork bunny pattern , you'll want to round up your supplies. The particular beauty of this particular project is that you really don't need much. Certainly, you need your fabric scraps. I actually discover that 100% cotton wool is most effective because it doesn't slip close to too much whenever you're sewing these small seams. Nevertheless, don't be afraid to mix in several textures! Some corduroy for the tummy or some gentle flannel for the particular inner ears can easily make the bunny feel a lot more tactile and interesting.
You'll also need several high-quality stuffing. I'm a big fan of wool roving if you need a firmer, weightier feel, but standard polyester fiberfill works just fine plus is much easier to clean. For the face, you can make use of safety eyes, but honestly, I favor adornments. It makes the toy safer intended for actual babies to play with, and you can provide the bunny a much more expressive "personality" along with just a couple of stitches of black or pink embroidery floss.
Designing Your Own Patchwork Bunny Pattern
If you don't have a physical pattern printed away, don't panic. You are able to totally wing it or draw your personal on a piece of cardboard. A basic patchwork bunny pattern usually consists of four main parts: the particular head, the body, the particular ears, as well as the hands or legs.
Whenever I draw my own, I like in order to make the hearing extra long—it simply makes them appear more whimsical. Regarding the body, a simple pear shape works wonders. If you prefer a "sitting" bunny, you'll want a wider base. If you want a "floppy" bunny, keep the limbs long plus thin. Just remember to add a quarter-inch seam allowance close to your drawings, or even your bunny will probably end up much skinnier than a person planned! I've made that mistake a lot more times than I actually care to confess, and while "skinny bunnies" are cute, they're a nightmare in order to stuff.
Ideas for Piecing Your Fabric
This particular is where the magic happens. Right now there are two ways to handle a patchwork bunny pattern . You can either sew small squares and strips together to create a large "sheet" of patchwork fabric and then cut your pattern pieces from that, or you can easily cut specific pattern pieces (like the particular front of the ear) and sew various fabrics together inside that shape.
The first method—making a big page of patchwork first—is definitely easier. It's basically like producing a tiny duvet top. You just grab pieces, sew all of them together randomly, push the seams level, and then lay down your bunny template on top. This ensures that the patchwork looks organic plus flows across the particular whole toy. When you're feeling fancy, you can still do a couple of "quilt-as-you-go" upon a bit of thin batting to give the bunny the bit more construction and a quilted feel.
Stitching and Assembly
Once your pieces are cut, it's time to head in order to the sewing device. The trickiest part of any patchwork bunny pattern is usually the particular ears and the particular curves around the neck of the guitar. My advice? Slower down. When you're sewing around the particular tips of those long ears, use a shorter stitch length. It can make the curves smoother and ensures that will the stuffing won't poke with the seams later.
When you're joining the particular front and back again of the bunny, make sure you leave the gap for switching. I usually leave regarding two inches upon the side from the hip. It's big enough to get my thumb in there to push the fabric right-side out but small enough that closing this up with a ladder stitch isn't an enormous chore. And please, don't forget about to clip your own curves! If you don't snip little V-shapes into the seam allowance around the neck and underarms, the fabric will certainly bunch up plus look lumpy as soon as you turn it.
Bringing Your own Bunny to Existence
Stuffing is definitely an art form, I swear. You don't want in order to just shove a giant handful associated with fluff in generally there and call it up the day. To get the best results with your patchwork bunny pattern , use small tufts associated with stuffing. Start along with the furthest points—the tips of the particular ears as well as the ends of the ft. Use a chopstick or even a blunt pen to actually get the stuffing into those corners.
A person want the bunny to be steady enough to hold its shape, but soft enough in order to be "huggable. " If you're creating a bunny with floppy ears, you may genuinely wish to leave the ears un-stuffed or just put the tiny bit in the base. This allows them dangle plus maneuver around, which is definitely incredibly cute. As soon as the stuffing is just right, use a needle and complementing thread to perform a ladder stitch (sometimes called the hidden stitch) in order to close the starting. If you do it right, the particular seam will totally disappear.
Personalizing the Face and Finishing Touches
Now comes my personal favorite part: the personality. Since you've utilized a patchwork bunny pattern , your bunny already has a lot of visual interest. A person don't need in order to go overboard with the face. A simple "Y" shape for the nose and mouth and two little French knots regarding eyes usually really does the trick.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can add a little blush to the cheeks utilizing a red colored pencil or actual makeup rose (just utilize a lighting hand! ). You could also link a scrap associated with ribbon or the strip of ribbons around the throat. Sometimes I'll still sew a small heart patch on to the bunny's chest. It's these small details that switch a sewing task right into a "friend. "
Making this a Keepsake
I've found that will these bunnies associated with absolute best gifts. If you know someone that is having a baby, using scraps from fabrics that lead to something to the particular family can change the simple patchwork bunny pattern right into a sentimental treasure. We once made the bunny using bits of an old silk shirt from a grandfather and several scraps from the mom's favorite childhood blanket. It was the hit of the baby shower, mostly because it told a story.
Also if you're just making one regarding yourself to sit on a shelf, there's a genuine sense of accomplishment in completing one. You've used literal trash—the bits of fabric that weren't good for something else—and turned them into something lovely and tactile.
So, proceed ahead and dig through that discard bin. Get the shades that make you happy, don't be concerned too much regarding things being perfectly symmetrical, and just enjoy the procedure. Sewing a patchwork bunny pattern is supposed to be fun, a bit messy, and totally creative. Before long, you'll have the whole colony associated with bunnies taking over your sofa, and honestly, there are much worse problems in order to have!